Okay, I'll try... here we are at OCR01999, on the precipice of a new era, and it's time for some fantastic, polished, absolutely mindblowing musicality and talent!!

...INSTEAD, I find myself posting... this :) Ah, but I kid the conveniently-anonymous "Scuba Divers" - their strategic decision to include Liontamer means they can blame any and all faults on his sheer presence, escaping both unnamed and unscathed. Ever wonder what the infamous Chocobo theme would sound like as a hip-hop track with a bunch of gamers taking on the personas of Chocobo, Shiva, Tonberry, and Cactaur, and rapping about "street cred" and "Sucka MCs"? That makes two of us! But part of OCR's unwritten mission statement is to provide answers to questions no one ever dreamed of asking, and in that sense this track is a fundamental and unequivocal success. The submission email sayeth:

"The concept is a tribute to the classic 'Team Gato', but instead of multiple style, we picked one style and ran with it- there are 4 rappers; in order, they are Chocobo, Shiva, Tonberry, and Cactuar. Yeah Tonberry and Cactaur weren't specifically in FF4, but they are pretty iconic to the series. The changes to the source are modulation to minor, so it sounded more tough, and we also added a lot of extra counterpoint and stuff."

The counterpoint's good, but it's the "stuff" that really sealed the deal... I'll just jump to the chase and say that the rapping here is whiter than wonderbread, and the overall tone is certainly goofy, but we don't post "joke mixes" that don't at least sound good & have some merit to both arrangement and production. The core concept here of "minorizing" the Chocobo theme, slowing it down, and using it as a bed for a hip-hop track is really rather sound AND well-executed. You've got the female "backup ho" chorus, the T-Pain'd out "on-a-boat" melodic hook, and a corresponding boatload of in-character, contextual rapping that certainly plays with Final Fantasy lore in new and... unexpected ways. Plus, hell, there's a shout out to yours truly, so I gotta love that. "Gato" worked better as a travesty because of the audience interaction, booing, etc., and I did like the variety of switching between styles because it meant that more arrangement concepts could be worked in than otherwise possible. However, the Divers still managed to construct something original, catchy, and destined to invoke the wrath of those who hold even the quirky Chocobo theme sacrosanct and/or hate rapping of any kind and/or dislike the notion of an amusing track on an FF4 album, because all Final Fantasy must be serious business at all times.

From an objective standpoint, I think the rapping could have been tighter, the cadences a bit more syncopated, and perhaps one additional arrangement concept could have been injected, and I would have been sold just a bit more, but it's still a fun little world unto itself. OA drew some fire for allowing a fairly loose reign on Echoes, and encouraging diversity. Maybe the world would have been better off with a consistent, super-refined, self-similar album of meticulously polished FF4 mixes, but these are well-explored themes already, and I think the breadth and depth in many cases worked as a positive. In either case, they managed to work the word "sublimate" into a rap, and that's an achievement in and of itself. Godspeed, you salty divers!

As soon as I first heard this, I thought "Damn. It's going to be
rap." How wrong I was... not about the style, that is, but my
assumption that I'd dislike it. It does help that, unlike a lot of
"real" (as it were) rap, it's actually got somewhat interesting and
meaningful lyrics. FF-themed songs FTW! It's easily one of my
favourite tracks on the album (and one that I have some plans for a
YouTube video with...). Yo, Chocobo's so hood; this song is
very good. Anyone who disagrees is, of course, entitled to
their own opinion, but you've convinced me. Good job!
I am just left wondering... what exactly does rhyme with
Elixir?

It really makes you stop and think about what CAN get posted here.
Many people strive to get their quality up or their concept
accepted but miss the mark. Another broad category of mixes exist
with passable quality but don't take themselves seriously enough,
these usually get posted at olremix.
But all this said; the occasional mix pulls a fast one on us.
I've decided; I'm going to make the most amazing techno remix with
unrecognizable sliver sized samples, have it pass, get it posted
with flying reviews, and then reveal that the samples were of me
taking a shit.

Apologies, but I thought this was the weak point of an otherwise
wonderful album. I enjoy a lot of the silly mixes like Team Gato
and that Zelda one of the guy singing about his life in Kakariko
Town, but I felt like this one tried too hard. I skip it each time
I listen to Echoes. I don't find it musically pleasing and I don't
really find it entertaining.

Um, wow. No need to review this because it would be pointless. All
I can say is this is exactly what happens when you mix White and
Nerdy with the Chocobo Theme. I don't hate it, but I think one
listen is enough. I'm gonna go back to listening to DJ Premier
instrumentals now.

Just letting you know, Liontamer and crew, that this is one of my
favorite tracks on the album, hands down. It's surprisingly well
done, even with the appropriately dubbed "Whiter than Wonderbread"
rapping (actually, it wouldn't have worked as well if it was
anything else, imho)...
Yeah, if anyone gives you flack for this screw em' - we need more
mixes like this one on here, lol.

Master_Yoshi;655562 wrote: Woot! Wet
Blanket!
Should I be less serious? Kinda. OCR needs all the positive
attention they can get, but when one of the most discussed and
widely praised songs on the site's frontpage is this piece of
crap... well.... Fine! Be that way! I still get to be an opinion.
As long as my blanket isn't infused with smallpox I'll be okay
with being the lone voice of dissent.
No, FF tracks don't have to be serious all the time. Tracks don't
have to be serious all the time if they are good. I said, Team
Gato was fantastic and I loved the hell out of a bunch of the
other "Joke" tracks. ROBOVoice was another great one. Oh and I
forgot about the Black Market. In order to get praise you should
either be GOOD -or- SERIOUS (and good enough for the minimum
submission standards.) This is neither. It's trying to be both
campy and Indi. Sorry, but OCR doesn't really seem like the place
to be both poorly constructed and not taking anything
serious.
Honestly though, why does anyone care about some guy with a low
post count who doesn't seem plugged into the community. Continue
to fap eachother off and have a laugh, and I'll take my wet
blanket and give an objective opinion about the track. Objective
meaning "Not involved with it other than as that of the
listener."
Oh and RE: OLR. Driivin in a Tooyyoooooota. I love that stuff,
but... not here.
/me ducks and goes back to hiding, using his wet blanket to give
a +1 deflection bonus against flame attacks.

Well, you're definitely entitled to your opinion, mr. blanket. In
fact I think one of the positive points about something like this
is how it can polarize people. Some see it as sheer camp, other's
can abhor its existence. In either case, you gave it a listen, and
in the end, I guess that's what music intended to be: listened
to.
Now, if you'll excuse me...
*fap fap fap*

Woot! Wet Blanket!
Should I be less serious? Kinda. OCR needs all the positive
attention they can get, but when one of the most discussed and
widely praised songs on the site's frontpage is this piece of
crap... well.... Fine! Be that way! I still get to be an opinion.
As long as my blanket isn't infused with smallpox I'll be okay with
being the lone voice of dissent.
No, FF tracks don't have to be serious all the time. Tracks don't
have to be serious all the time if they are good. I said, Team Gato
was fantastic and I loved the hell out of a bunch of the other
"Joke" tracks. ROBOVoice was another great one. Oh and I forgot
about the Black Market. In order to get praise you should either be
GOOD -or- SERIOUS (and good enough for the minimum submission
standards.) This is neither. It's trying to be both campy and Indi.
Sorry, but OCR doesn't really seem like the place to be both poorly
constructed and not taking anything serious.
Honestly though, why does anyone care about some guy with a low
post count who doesn't seem plugged into the community. Continue to
fap eachother off and have a laugh, and I'll take my wet blanket
and give an objective opinion about the track. Objective meaning
"Not involved with it other than as that of the listener."
Oh and RE: OLR. Driivin in a Tooyyoooooota. I love that stuff,
but... not here.
/me ducks and goes back to hiding, using his wet blanket to give a
+1 deflection bonus against flame attacks.

DJP- "However, the Divers still managed to construct something
original, catchy, and destined to invoke the wrath of those who
hold even the quirky Chocobo theme sacrosanct and/or hate rapping
of any kind and/or dislike the notion of an amusing track on an FF4
album, because all Final Fantasy must be serious business
at all times."

Master_Yoshi;655287 wrote: This is awful.
Seriously. It was a joke track on the otherwise awesome FF4
project, and I can't believe it was even taken seriously. I
mean... honestly. Even as an OCR, how can anyone take this as
anything serious? Team Gato has the same problem, but at least
Team Gato has good music underlying the silliness.

Everything about this is bad. The rapping is loose, and lacks
intelligence. The music underneath is repetitive and boring.
Just... No. Maybe this would make sense as an April Fool's day
flood, but yeesh.

Alright, let me qualify this a bit. I love team Gato, but because
it has actual game lyrics, and great underlying music. As far as
Rap goes, I think you can't get any more controversial or awesome
than Niggaz For Life, which was amazing. So the rap thing can be
done and done well. As other mixes have proved (Including one
very recently posted.) So it's not the style or the decision to
have some fun that's the problem here. The fact that it is an
obvious joke, like Music of My Groin (which is only "awesome"
because it's so retarded) is what kills it.

Wow, is just too funny. :lmassoff: I think DJP saw this comment
coming. In fact, I'm wondering if you really feel this way or just
humoring DJP's comment, because it's way too close to his "too
serious" remark.

That being said, I liked it. The lyrics were corny and obviously a
parody (although I thought Shiva's part was pretty hot, no pun). I
agree that the lyrics could have been tighter, but this is more
than I'd expect. The beat was done well with the original theme and
I liked the fact that it kept the same weirdness of the original
(and probably made it weirder). Yeah, this is probably one of the
best themes on the album.

Help us save bandwidth - using our torrents saves us bandwidth and lets you download
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Ladies and gentlemen, due to an issue with their private airship, Team Gato is unfortunately unable to perform here tonight at the Blue Planet. Instead (we are not refunding your gil), we hope you enjoy...the music stylings of...The Scuba Divers!

Chocobo:

No introduction needed, heh, y'all know me
Even G's in their 30's can't seem to outgrow me.
Rockin' mimmit greens and chill, sippin' on potion
Bustin' phat gold rhymes, take you across the ocean.

Every title that I'm in gets a new kind of class
You think these games went platinum 'cuz of Tidus and his whiny ass? (Tidus: I hate you, dad!)
Everyone be beggin' for me up in their mix
I got more guest spots than even Ludacris.

OG to the core, you'll never see me stressin'
Album sales through the roof; record gains, the direction.
Sucka MCs buried at my discretion
And the shawties hangin' 'round, I just make my selection.

From Babil to Fabul, I keep the rhymes comin'
But when Baron regulates, suckas all go runnin'
But you know I'm standin' tall, no matter what they got equipped
'Cuz I'm rollin' posse deep, even though I'm on a solo tip
[Chorus]
Chocobo, Chocobo, you're so fine
You've got more bling than all of those guys
Yo, Chocobo's so hood
This song is very good

Chocobo, Chocobo, you're so fine
You've got more bling than all of those guys
Yo, Chocobo's so hood
This song is very good

Yo, this bridge goes out to the one and only djpretzel
And I gotta give props to the sexy women
Yo, Shiva, break it down, and tell 'em how you livin'

Shiva:

OK, boys, let's turn the temperature down.
I'm the queen of the North, the coldest woman around.
Fools are frozen solid, leavin' no trace,
Don't even think for a second I'm only ribbons and lace

You think you can fight me, you don't stand a chance
Gonna bury you, sucka, I'll drop an avalanche
As slippery as ice, and as brilliant as snow
My rhymes are so slick, there's just no stoppin' the flow

My body refined in a sub-zero climate
But my beauty isn't something you can imitate
You think you can own, but I'm the dominate
I'm so hot, you won't melt, you're gonna sublimate

All the heroes be showin' nothing but lust
'Cuz my bling be glitterin' like diamond dust
And all the other ladies just can't seem to suffice
'Cuz there's just no comparin' to this mistress of ice.

[Chorus]

Tonberry:

(Awww, yea!)
In the cold, dark shadows, yea, that's where I live,
And if your party runs up on me, they'll be tastin' my shiv,
So if we ever cross paths, best be usin' your brain,
'Cuz this is TONBERRY, fool, and I'm the real T-Pain.
(me me me me)

Cactuar:

You'd better not blink since I move so fast
Don't ever be dissin' me, I'll bust a thousand caps;
My needles are tiny, but they're my only attack
So thugged out with street cred, my power's at max

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